Local Champions of Accessibility and Inclusiveness Recognized with Provincial Awards

Three Greater Sudbury citizens will receive the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) 10^th Anniversary Champion Award, during a special presentation on Tuesday, December 15, at 5:45 p.m. in the Council Chamber of Tom Davies Square.

Local champions of accessibility and inclusiveness, Elizabeth Lounsbury, Ron Lessard and Linda Whiteside, will accept their awards prior to the 6 p.m. meeting of Greater Sudbury Council on Tuesday evening.

“We are very proud to honour these champions with provincial awards of distinction for their work in the community,” said Deputy Mayor Joscelyne Landry-Altmann, who will present the awards on behalf of the Mayor and Council. “Each recipient excels in their passion and commitment to improve opportunities for persons with disabilities. They are true leaders and richly deserving of this recognition.”

Elizabeth Lounsbury is a former Chair and member of the City of Greater Sudbury Accessibility Advisory Panel. A volunteer with the March of Dimes for more than 25 years, she has served as Chair of Post-Polio Canada since its inception, providing education and support to polio survivors, their families and healthcare professionals across the country.

Ron Lessard is the Regional Community Development Leader for the Learning Disabilities Association of Sudbury (LDAS), a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting individuals with learning disabilities in reaching their potential. The LDAS provides support through facilitation of community resources, partnerships with school boards and community agencies, coaching and assistive technology programs.

Linda Whiteside is the Chair and longtime member of the City of Greater Sudbury Accessibility Advisory Panel. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for ICAN (Independence Centre and Network), an organization which provides resources to facilitate independent living for persons who have physical disabilities. She also serves as a member of the ICAN Quality Improvement Board.

The AODA 10^th Anniversary Champion Award is an initiative of the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO) and the Government of Ontario to mark the first decade since the inception of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. The goal of the Act is to increase accessibility for persons with disabilities and enable them to participate in their communities.

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